Theme Revealed: 10/5/13 Minnesota Homecoming

A picture of your's truly was once featured on the website CamelToe.org, an organization dedicated to capturing and cataloging photos of ladies' crotch-creases, for posing in front of a mammoth Goldy the Gopher blow up prior to a Michigan victory in the Metrodome.  He/she had the biggest cameltoe ever seen, though it was debatable whether or not he/she had on any pants.  That's the picture I wanted to put up, but I couldn't find it in time, so I put this picture of a hungover Godfather about squeeze his belly into Al's Breakfast in Minneapolis's Dinkytown for piles of hash and blueberry pancakes.

Three fun facts:  1) Michigan won all the games they played in that Metrodome.  2) We were almost arrested for eating peanuts and leaning on a food service staging area in the concourse.  3) They served beer at the Metrodome...and not in the crappy hunt-for-it style of their current venue.  It was there.  In the open.  And it was delicious.

But this is not about the Metrodome, it's about coming home to the Big House.  It's Homecoming.  Tuba will be here.  There will be dances, fundraisers, formal dinners...the bars will be hopping on Friday night.  And at the tailgate?  Well...

10/5/13 Minnesota
Kickoff:  3:30pm
Theme:  Carnival

I can't wait for Mrs. Cleveland to see this.  I didn't even ask her.  Games!  Games!  Games!  Pin the tail on the Tressell, an autographs for tattoos booth, a makeout with the Godfather booth, and a nice game of "where in the world (read: on/in their bodies) did Dennis and Adam hide their Boone's Farm bottles?".  I also want a cotton candy machine and a slurpee maker.  Somebody get on that.

Pancake breakfast will be served, though there will likely be some bacon in the batter, and maybe even some corn meal....so make that Bacon-laced Johnny Cakes for breakfast.  Cheesesteaks / Pizzasteaks return for lunch.  And elephant ears will be a nice pre-game snack.  Attire?  Everyone should wear clown shoes. 

Way Back When-sday Pic of the Week

October 2, 2004:  Stephen walks with the Indiana marching band in front of the John Mellencamp Pavilion on the way to witness Michigan's 35-14 victory over the Hoosiers.

Theme Revealed: 9/14 Akron

Let's make pizza together in this thing...

I've been practicing knocking out Naples-quality pies all spring in the KettlePizza, and I will continue to do so throughout the summer.  I've made some modifications to my setup and I think I've got it down.  It's a labor of love...and massive piles of fresh mozzarella.  Anyway, this little contraption turns out a badass pizza in less than two minutes, so there should be no problem feeding the crowd.

9/14/13 Akron
Kickoff: Noon
Theme: Pizza Party

Early kickoff means pizza for breakfast?  Yep, it's just like college.  We'll do a couple of breakfast pies early (bacon and egg, etc) before moving into some traditional (pepperoni, mushroom, etc.) topped ones later in the morning.  We'll do some crazy ones too I'm sure.  I'll bring the dough and a plethora of meats and cheeses, but we'll definitely open it up to the masses to bring your own toppings.  Unlike Kramer's place, I'll be the only one sliding it in to the oven.  The damn thing gets about 3X as hot as the turkey frier oil.  

We will have some sides too I'm sure, likely pastas and salads, and maybe a keg of beer is in order?  Pizza and beer...sounds like a plan.  Bonus points to whoever can get us an arcade size Ms. Pac Man or Galaga to perfect the ambiance.

Also, following the tailgate, I am tentatively officially announcing the first annual UMTailgate Aprés Tailgate.  Why?  Partially because I always wanted to but never had the opportunity, and partially because I'm getting married to our cakemaker over the summer and we want a chance to celebrate with everybody.  Obviously, it will be limited to our tailgate members and their guests only, and will take place at our home following the game.  Not exactly sure what it will entail, but there will be food...and football games on the tv.  Details to follow at a later date.

Theme Revealed: 9/7 Notre Dame

President Brandon will attempt to recapture the atmosphere from the glorious night that happened just two years ago as we bid adieu to (The Chickens of) Notre Dame and the series that has kept us from having a cool home-at-home for the better part of 25 years.  

Who am I kidding?  We're not scheduling anything cool.  We need more home games against conferences you have to look up on the internet!  Feed the machine.  Feed the machine.  Feed the machine.

9/7/2013 Notre Dame
Kickoff: 8pm
Theme: Catfish, Smoke, and Pickles

 They say you can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning, so yes, this tailgate will start in the morning.  It's gonna be a long one.  Frydaddy Frank left me a voicemail that said Reuben Egg Rolls will be making a triumphant comeback.  I'm not sure if he was drunk, but I plan to hold him to it.  That will be lunch I think.  Dinner will have a fried catfish component and a moment of silence for Lennay Kukua.   Also, I'm really in to this cookbook by Edward Lee.  He has this restaurant in Louisville where he adds Asian influences to Southern cooking.  I'm not saying that there's going to be any Asian influenced Southern food, and I guess I'm also not saying that there's not.  What I am saying is that the name of the book is Smoke and Pickles, which I find to be a novel concept.  There will be some smoked stuff (smoked brisket breakfast hash?)  and some pickled stuff (fried pickles?, bloody marys?).

Anyway, bring your invisible girlfriend and come on down.  We'll be there from dawn til dusk til dawn.  

Theme Revealed: 8/31 Central Michigan

Instead of one giant 2013 themes post I thought I'd spread stuff out this year because as you all know I get paid on a per-post basis here at UMTailgate.com.  I kid, I kid...I do it all for the love.  

Also, a more usable (maybe) calendar feature will be available at the top of the page under the 2013 tab that lets you add things to ical or google calendar.  I added that because the Godfather likes to be organized.

And finally, the 2005 season has been added to the marquee...and 2004 is almost complete...which leaves just four seasons 2000-2003 before the entire history of the tailgate is finally once again available on the site.

Without further ado, the home opening tailgate theme is.... 

8/31/13 Central Michigan
Kickoff: 3:30pm
Theme: Luau

The much sought after (by me at least) 3:30pm opener kickoff will either give us time to get our feet wet or kill us where we stand....it can go either way, not unlike Goody.  Regardless, dig your leis out of the closet, slap on your favorite Tommy Bahama, and plan on a pork-based menu that will feature pork belly breakfast hash and then either a whole damn pig or a shit-ton of ribs.  The luau theme last appeared two seasons ago for the home opener against Western, and first appeared nine years ago in 2004 for the opener against Miami of Ohio in what was Chad Henne's first start.